Especially as summer approaches, I frequently get asked this question:
“How can I get rid of cellulite?”
It’s a great question.
So I did a little digging…
First thing is – as you may have guessed – cellulite is not a disease and it’s not even a skin condition.
It’s just aesthetic. But not the nice kind of aesthetic.
However, so far, scientists haven’t actually agreed on what causes this bumpy effect on the skin of our butts and thighs that we lovingly refer to as cottage cheese or orange peel.
But they do know that somewhere between 85 and 98% of women have it, regardless of size, race, or color. While men, for the most part, don’t.
Damn those men!
Of course, I’m just kidding… We love them, but it’s just not fair. They can pee standing up and now this!
What we do know is that cellulite is subcutaneous fat (that’s fat just under the skin) which is protruding out through gaps in the connective tissue holding the fat in place. Kind of like a pork roast…
And it seems that this connective tissue is thinner and less robust in women than in men. So although men do have fat, they don’t experience that dimpling effect.
Unfortunately there are no proven ways to get rid of cellulite altogether.
Yes, there are tonnes of products and procedures out there, some that cost thousands of dollars, but none of them have been able to demonstrate full or lasting effects.
It seems that no amount of rubbing, scrubbing, brushing, shocking, sucking, rolling, wrapping, or zapping you do will get it to leave.
However, there is some good news.
Given the nature of cellulite – which is basically just a visually unappealing display of fat – if we lose fat, won’t we lose cellulite?
Well, although nothing can make cellulite disappear for good, you can make cellulite less apparent by losing fat and gaining lean muscle.
And not only that, you can also help improve things further by reducing water retention and inflammation, which are both thought to contribute to the cellulite effect.
And how do we lose fat, gain lean muscle, and reduce water retention and inflammation?
Anyone?
You guessed it. Diet and exercise.
But not just any diet or exercise. There are specific types of exercise and foods that can help.
So here’s my suggestion for 5 ways that you deal with your cellulite:
Get Intense
It’s been proven that short bouts of intense cardio can burn fat more effectively than slower, longer duration movement.
So think of injecting a few, or a bunch, of 20 to 30 second sprints into your long walks.
Pump Iron
Adding resistance training a couple of times a week, like weights or body-weight exercises such as push ups, will help speed up your metabolism, allowing you to burn more fat.
Also, building muscle has been shown to reduce chronic inflammation…
Eat foods that are anti-inflammatory
Processed foods promote inflammation in the body. Not good. However, whole foods (foods as close to their natural state as possible), keep inflammation at bay.
There are also a few foods that are particularly known for their anti-inflammatory effects like leafy greens, tomatoes, berries, nuts, fatty fish, and cold-pressed virgin olive oil. And certain spices like ginger, clove, and turmeric are known to reduce inflammation.
Avoid foods that cause water retention
When we think water retention, we usually think of salt.
So getting rid of excess salt (not all salt) from the diet will help. That means reducing those pesky processed foods, which generally have a significant amount of added salt.
Another huge culprit of water retention is food allergies.
You may not even be aware that you have a food allergy because you may never have had an acute reaction to a particular food. And there-in lies the problem.
Many people are allergic to foods like dairy, wheat, and eggs but may not have any alarming symptoms.
Instead they may have more low level symptoms like water retention, headaches, brain fog, acne and more.
If you think you may have a food allergy, try an elimination diet where you eliminate just the suspect food, or food group, for about a month.
Don’t forget to record what happens. And consulting your doctor on this first is a good idea.
Love It
Ahhh, cellulite.
We love to hate it, curse it, cover it up, and subject it to all kinds of awkward treatments. But no matter what we do, it looks like it will still be a part of our beautiful bodies.
You and I, we’ve got to make peace with it.
So, let’s show our cellulite a little love today.
Let’s let go of the bad mouthing, and set it free!
Let your cellulite breathe and see the light of day.
Well, maybe not today, it’s raining and cold.
How about tomorrow?
Keep moving forward, cellulite and all,
Debbie
P.S. Do you want to learn to love your body, cellulite and all? I can help. Just email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com or book a time to talk about it.